Best of

the Twin Cities

Best TV Newsperson

Jana Shortal

Last year, KARE 11’s Jana Shortal briefly became national news after Star Tribune gossiper C.J. published an ill-advised piece attacking Shortal for wearing “skinny jeans” while reporting on Jacob Wetterling. The paper apologized; Shortal seized the moment to make a point about being yourself. Lost in all that noise? The Breaking the News episode in question, a half-hour dedicated solely to the Wetterling case, was really, really good: dramatic, sad, revelatory, and humane. One year in, Breaking the News is pushing the bounds of local television talkers as a show that’s by turns patient and deep, fast and funny. America met Shortal first as the woman with the hip jeans. It will meet her next as the woman with the hip show on national TV.